The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-17
A FAVOasBhE REPORT.
PLANTING CONDITIONS ~ LOUIS
lana AND MISSISSIPPI.
An Agent Of the Labor Bureau Gives
the Result OF Recent In
vesligatiOns.

months VISIT 10 LOulslana anu MIS-
sissippi, where, as the agent OF the
United States Bureau of Labor, he
investigated the conditions of cotton
and sugar plantations in those States.
His official report has been sub
mitted to the bureau, who will at
some time issue it, together with
similar data regarding other agricul-
tural products, but, in a converse
ton with your correspondent, Prof.
Grabowski stated in a general way
the results of his investigations,
which will be received with much
qualification by Louisianians and
Mississippians.
Prof. Grabowski's conclusions are
all the more valuable as they are not
affected by any local bias. He is
German by birth and education, and
a graduate of the Royal Prussiau
Institute Of Agriculture. He was
professor of agriculture Of the Mary
land Agricultural College for three
years, and at the Pennsylvania State
College for four. He is an expert in
agricultural matters, and was for
this reason selected by the govern
me ut to make the examination he
has just completed.
1t was intended that he should
cover Louisiana, Mississippi, Ala
bama and Georgia in his work, but
the appropriation at the bureaus
disposal running short, he was in
structed to confne himselfto the two
first named States.
Prof. Grabowski's original plan of
procedure contemplated an investi-
CATION Of the distribution OF profits,
which divided themselves naturally
into three divisions-frst, the cost
to the producer, that is, the planter;
second, the cost to the middle man,
the factor; aud third, the cost to the
shipper, the railroad or steamboat
company. He found it impossible,
however, to con6ne himself to these
divisions. The subject grew as he
studied it. SO he finally resolved to
put himself in the position OF
| Northern or Western man desiring
to emigrate and seeking thorough in
formation on points such as these !;
the price Of lands, the amount OF
taxes, the size OF farms, the cost OF
labor, the relation Of labor to capt.
tai, extent Of crops per acre, diversi-
6cation OF crops, means and cost Of
transportation, etc. 1t was from this
point OF view that he surveyed the
situation and drew his conclusions.
When, in January, he first arrived
in New Orleans, which he used as
his base OF operations, he obtained
from the officers Of the Cotton and
Sugar Exchanges the names Of a
dozen prominent factors, from all Of
whom he obtained lists Of their most
intelligent planters. In this way he
got the names of about 100 planters
in different parts Of Louisiana and
Mississippi, whom he visited in per.
son.
AT first he attempted to obtain the
information he desired by CORE.
spondence. He found out quickly
that this was impracticable. He
thereupon decided upon personal in.
terviews. Even then he encoun.
tered many difficulties. Prof. Ora.
bowski stated that il was surprising
how i'll informed even the most in.
telligent planters were as TO the &C
tual expenses aud profits Of their
plantations. BY a systematic cours,
Of interrogation he, however, sue
ceeded in eventually eliciting the
I desired information.
He started out from New Orleans
on the Morgan Line, went as lar a
Shreveport, returning to New Or
leans BY the Texas and Pacif,
through the Natchitoches country
then up to Vicksburg and over again
I to Shreveport and 10 New Orleans
then up the Mississippi Valley b,
Memphis, 10 Grenads, Corinth ant
Aberdeen down the Illinois Contra
to New Orleans again; then farther
down to Plaquemines and mp to Don
aldsonville; back 10 New Orleans an,
then out on the Northwestern. ThiI
is 4 mere sketch OF the route fol
, lowed, for he stopped at many oihe
/ places than those mentioned an,
, made many detours aud excursions.
In speaking Of his trip Prot
Grabowski said 10 your correspond
, ent among other things:
: There is one Of the most remark
| able instances Of general recupera
ton going on in that section Of lh
2 country that the world has probabl
ever seen. One has only TO pas
through the country 10 see that thi
is 80, 10 see the improvements Il
road building, the house and iehc
painting, the removal OF unsightl
places and things, the general evi
dences OF increased thrift and order
There are several reasons for thi
a wonderful activity aud improvement
! One is that each little communit
4 feels that possibly IL will soon be th
! center OF a big boom, and that
Q must prepare for il. But in IN
1 opinion the chief reason is in the fac
!. that the young men Of the SouiI
!, have come 10 the front and take
. charge Of things. Their Management
:. OF the plantations and farms is NOR
}: intelligent because they are thorough
:. ly familiar with the post bellum ~
y uation. They are not continual
9 confronted with the memory OF no,
. things we're done before the wal
, They recognize the changed condi
4 tions, we're brought up under ther
4 in fact, and by practical experience
- know nothing else. Their manag,
n ment Of the negro labor is therefor
n more effective, they are reader
e avail themselves Of new process,
10 and implements OF agriculture.
"The great difficulty that ii
planters have been laboring under
:" their efforts 30 run their business Q
r. no capital. The consequence is thu
lie the money that they have made
IN and they have made money-hi
III gone 10 the person who made the
q their advances. They have had
10 pay such excessive interest th
Of their profits have been swallowed.
OF came across many planters who hi
10 been compelled 10 pay2 and y p
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